As I stood on stage with Saje, and Aisha with @dolapoosinbajo attempting to solve a puzzle together, I couldn't help but appreciate and be inspired by how these kids have turned trauma to triumph.
About 10,000 other children, like Saje, Aisha , and Kaltum orphaned or displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency, have benefited immensely from the excellent work of all stakeholders at the North East Children’s Trust (NECT) @nectngr Learning Centre; a private sector-led and charity educational centre we envisioned in 2016, and which took off a year later in Maiduguri.
For five years, these kids have journeyed from the trauma of insurgency and the cusp of hopelessness to an assurance of lofty aspirations. The evidence of progress was palpable as they welcomed us into their home to celebrate 5 years of brewing inspiring dreams, potentials and great things. In these 5 years, the NECT Learning Centre has practically become a place that defies despondency, displacement and despair to drive dreams for these kids.
While I thank the NECT board, led by Mr. Jim Ovia, the management, and all who have contributed to the centre’s development, especially the Borno State government, these kids with their teachers have become the real heroes of this story.
I celebrate them hugely.
